Parity-symmetry-breaking quantum phase transition via parametric drive in a cavity magnonic system

TL;DR

This paper investigates how a parametric drive induces parity-symmetry-breaking quantum phase transitions in a cavity magnonic system, revealing rich phase diagrams and different types of nonequilibrium transitions.

Contribution

It demonstrates a method to engineer quantum phase transitions in a hybrid system with strong magnon-cavity coupling using parametric driving.

Findings

Identification of parity-symmetry-broken phase in cavity magnonics

Observation of first- and second-order nonequilibrium QPTs

Control of phase transitions via drive strength and system parameters

Abstract

We study the parity-symmetry-breaking quantum phase transition (QPT) in a cavity magnonic system driven by a parametric field, where the magnons in a ferrimagnetic yttrium-iron-garnet sphere strongly couple to a microwave cavity. With appropriate parameters, this cavity magnonic system can exhibit a rich phase diagram, including the parity-symmetric phase, parity-symmetry-broken phase, and bistable phase. When increasing the drive strength beyond a critical threshold, the cavity magnonic system undergoes either a first- or second-order nonequilibrium QPT from the parity-symmetric phase with microscopic excitations to the parity-symmetry-broken phase with macroscopic excitations, depending on the parameters of the system. Our work provides an alternate way to engineer the QPT in a hybrid quantum system containing the spin ensemble in a ferri- or ferromagnetic material with strong exchange interactions.